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 #1800613


Rachella
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 Thinking about getting a tegu..

My BF and I are lizard dorks, and love the little reptiles. We currently have three bearded dragons and a panther chameleon in our family. We’ve recently stumbled on the world of tegus! This is a lizard neither of us have any experience with, but it looks great and we understand they can get large.

Other than this, though, we’re not too sure about their husbandry and the differences in them. My BF said he wanted a gold tegu. What are the differences besides color in all of the tegu types? As well as information on their husbandry, any of this info would be greatly appreciated, as well as recommendations!
07/18/08  02:11pm

 #1801425


KMA
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   Message To: Rachella   In reference to Message Id: 1800613


 Thinking about getting a tegu..

the gold tegu is also known as the columbian tegu, they do get smaller, but one of the best known difference between the argentine and the columbians are their temperment, the columbian tegu will basically try to kill you and just about everything else that moves, and takes a lot of work to tame them down, unless you get lucky, which is a once out of a hundred chance
the argentine tegus get about a foot longer than the columbians and get much bigger, but they are much nicer, and eat just about everything, they eat fruits, vegetables, mice, ground turkey, fish, worms, roaches, eggs, etc
they require a 8’x4’x4’ enclosure, with about a foot of cypress mulch, being the best substrate for them, they require a UVB lighting, and somewhere around 70 humidity
they eat a ton, and can cost a lot to feed, and house
07/19/08  12:17am

 #1803780


Mike S
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   Message To: Rachella   In reference to Message Id: 1800613


 Thinking about getting a tegu..

Hi Rachella,

This is going to sound harsh, but you dont want a golden, especially because this will be your first tegu. They are pretty nasty, not to put them down i love them, but not as a first tegu

If i were you i would go between the black and white argentines, a red, or a blue

Black and whites:
Although they tend to be a bit larger than the others they are gentle giants (if the care is provided). Im my opinion there are no down sides to these beasts, but others would say their 5.5ft size would be a bit of a cramp

Reds:
Have a bit more attitude and only get to be about 4-4.5 feet, they require just a bit more husbandry than the rest.

Blues:
Are by far the smallest little guys out there, topping off at a whopping 3.5ft! They are probably the "best" starter tegu, because they are very tolerant to their care givers mistakes and are pretty docile, the only thing that may turn you away from them are that they do tend to be quite expensive, much more than a b/w or red.

Any other questions dont hesitate to post :)
07/21/08  07:13am

 #1803811


BooByVu
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   Message To: Rachella   In reference to Message Id: 1800613


 Thinking about getting a tegu..

Hi, welcome to this forum. Im gonna have to backup the other guys and also suggest the Arg B/W. They are by far one of the most calm lizards Ive ever kept. If you have a big backyard, and if weather permits, id keep them outside. But if not, keeping them inside is a blast too! Its just the feeding....no matter which tegu you get, they eat alot....feeding cost plus caging costs far exceed what you will pay for the tegu so that should be put into consideration. But other then that, they re great!
07/21/08  09:06am


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